Paragliding is a fun aerial adventure that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime, but it isn’t always widely available throughout all regions. Plus, we’re human; sometimes, we want to switch up our experiences without giving up the sensations of our favorite sport. Therefore, I’ve created this list of activities for paraglider lovers!
I’ll take you through each sport and explain why I feel these sports are similar yet different. That way, you know where to start when venturing into new experiences! Let’s get started.
1. Hang Gliding
Hang gliding, like paragliding, is an air sport where thrill seekers ride through the air on an ultralight aircraft without a motor that’s launched by foot. Both sports allow individuals to soar through the air and take in the beautiful aerial views of their flying region.
Something else that’s similar between the two sports is the wing control, as they’re both flexible enough to generate lift. However, the gliders are different as hang gliders are made from aluminum and created in a triangle shape.
In contrast, paragliders are made of fabric and are in the form of a large rounded rectangle. Moreover, they’re steered the same by manipulating body weight, and they both depend on using thermals to gain altitude and extend flight time.
Hang gliding and paragliding both require different skills and training! Hang gliding allows riders to travel at faster speeds, while paragliding is more of a relaxing venture.
Read my safety guide on hang gliding here.
2. Paramotoring (Powered Paragliding)
Paramotoring, also known as powered paragliding, is another excellent way to take to the skies as a similar alternative, yet different from paragliding.
The essence of the sport is relatively the same, as both are considered paragliding. However, paramotoring adds one different element; a motor. Both sports use a canopy wing designed for control and lift during your lift, and they’re both launched by foot.
However, paramotoring allows easier control over takeoffs, landings, and the overall flight length since you’re using a motor. On the other hand, paragliding focuses more on using thermal currents and natural wind to control your flight.
Read more about paramotoring:
- How Old Do You Have to Be to Fly a Paramotor?
- How Fast Do Paramotors Go? (Detailed Guide)
- Can You Fly a Paramotor Over a City?
3. Sailplane Flying
At first glance, you might not think that sailplanes and paragliders have anything in common. However, there’s more to it than you know!
Sailplane flying is a leisure sport where the pilot flies in an unpowered glider plane using the air to keep and gain altitude. It has long, thin wings and a smooth surface, allowing the pilot to fly significantly.
So, while the sport enjoyed differs vastly from paragliding, they’re similar in that they both offer a soaring, airborne flight using thermals for lift and flight time. They also have wings to help with this. However, sailplanes have rigid wings made of carbon fiber or fiberglass, while paragliders have a fabric supported by inflatable sections and lines.
Moreover, if you appreciate the silent aspect of paragliding, sailplane flying is also a tranquil, quiet experience. It’s peaceful but allows for a nice adrenaline dump!
4. Skydiving
Skydiving is another excellent activity to check out if you love paragliding. However, it’s a bit different, as this sport focuses more on the adrenaline aspect of everything. For this sport, you jump out of an airplane with a parachute, and it’s that simple!
Skydivers can jump between 7,000 feet to 30,000 feet, depending on the license, permit, and facility. Your freefall will last between 15 and 90 seconds, depending on the altitude you jump from.
So, in comparison to paragliding, I would consider it similar because, with both of the sports, you have that opening leap you need to take to get into the sport, whether it’s out of a plane, off of a hot air balloon, or from the edge of a cliff. Not to mention, both sports give you that heart-pounding adrenaline flood.
Something else that stands similar between the two sports is the fact that you’re flying under a canopy. However, the paraglider is designed to fly, whereas the parachute for skydiving is designed to slow your fall. Plus, you’ll get the same great view with both aerial-based sports!
Read our related post “25 Activities Like Skydiving for Adrenaline Junkies” here.
5. Parasailing
Parasailing is a fun sport in which someone is hoisted in the air under a large canopy using a vehicle either in water or on land. (More common is the parasailing on water.) A tow rope connects the vessel to the parasail, lifting one to three people high in the sky behind the boat.
When it comes to comparing parasailing to paragliding, they’re still both aerial-based sports and, again, involve a canopy. However, paragliding canopies are smaller than parasailing ones, and with paragliding, you typically launch from land.
On the other hand, with parasailing, you can launch from the ground, but it’s more common now to launch from a boat as it decreases the likelihood of accidents.
6. Speed Riding/Speed Flying
Speed riding, may also be known as speed flying, is another excellent sport closely related to paragliding, but the fundamentals are slightly different. For example, in both sports, you will take off from a hill and use the same type of contraptions, except with speed flying, you’ll use speed wings instead of a paraglider.
The speed wing is half the size of a paraglider, allowing it to cut through the air in a way that paragliders can’t. Plus, with a speed wing, you can fly when it’s windy, as the speed wing won’t catch on the wind, unlike a paraglider.
Speed riding is often when you wear skis as you speed ride, this is great when going down mountains with snow so you can glide over snow and ride it as you do so.
The goal of speed flying is to experience a fast, thrilling ride. The landing zone is usually near the hill as the flight is short-lived. However, with paragliding, the goal is to enjoy a softer, more extended flight. For comparison, paragliders fly between 12 to 47 miles per hour, while speed flyers reach up to 95 miles per hour; that’s thrilling!
7. Wingsuit Flying
For those focused on experiencing only the most thrilling sports related to paragliding, check out wingsuit flying! A wingsuit is simply an outfit that you put on, and it includes a webbing between the legs and armpits of the suit, giving the suit the ability to create some lift. However, with wingsuit flying, you must ensure you’re at a good elevation for parachute deployment.
When comparing wingsuit flying to paragliding, they’re both aerial-based sports, and they both involve gliding through the air using thermals and dynamic lift. They also share the same flight experience with the sensation of being airborne for a given amount of time.
However, you will need to remember that even though these sports are alike, they’re different in the skills that they require you to have. The equipment is various, as well as the skill levels.
Wingsuit flying is usually used during skydiving or BASE jumping (something you can only do after many solo skydives) and is done in a quick-to-the-ground manner. On the other hand, paragliding is more of a relaxing, more extended experience.
Interested in wingsuit flying? Check out this article.
8. Kitesurfing/Kiteboarding
You might be wondering why I’ve included kitesurfing as a sport similar to paragliding, but hear me out before you disagree. For kitesurfing, you use a board and a kite to propel yourself across the water for this sport. However, the kite is more of a parachute-style contraption that lets the wind guide it.
Paragliding and kitesurfing use the wind as a power source, making them similar. Plus, the parachute or ‘kite’ style is comparable to one used in paragliding, only smaller since you don’t want to generate too much lift.
However, the differences come between one being a water sport and one being an aerial sport. Plus, of course, you have a set of different gear and skills that you need in order to enjoy them both appropriately.
9. BASE Jumping
BASE jumping, like wingsuit flying, is only recommended for the fittest, most daring individuals looking for something like paragliding. However, this is much more extreme and less accessible.
Both sports can be done from lower altitudes than skydiving and other aerial sports. Plus, you can leap off stationery items such as a radio tower, buildings, bridges, and more with BASE jumping. You don’t need to have a running start like you do with paragliding.
Also, both sports call for specified training and safety measures and to know specific protocols in case of an emergency. They also typically require the participant to have safety gear that includes a helmet and backup parachute, just in case.
While it’s true that anyone who can BASE jump can paraglide, the truth cannot be reversed; paragliding is welcoming of many different ages, shapes, sizes, and physical fitness levels.
On the other hand, BASE jumping is only there for the fit of the fit, as you need to be in good physical shape and have over 150 solo skydives to meet the requirements for BASE jumping.
10. Land Windsurfing
In my opinion, land windsurfing is something that everyone should try, especially those who love paragliding but aren’t too fond of the height factor.
To say you’ll get the same sensation is probably pushing it, but you get the feeling of gliding on air. But that’s because land windsurfing is a ground sport, whereas paragliding is an air sport. However, that’s where the similarities between the end of the sports, as they both call for a different set of skills.
Land windsurfing is harder to learn as you’ll need a fair amount of balance as you’ll be riding on an oversized skateboard with a kite attached to it, much like a sailboat.
With this sport in particular you can bring your ride through skateparks, beaches, parking lots, cities, and more! It’s a great sport if you want to learn wind-guided steering dynamics and much more.
11. Hot Air Ballooning
A long-forgotten sport is hot air ballooning! Everyone should go at least once, as nothing quite like it. Plus, if you love paragliding, you’ll love this as it’s similar due to the feeling of riding in the air, and they’re both considered passive, leisure sports. You still get that thrill of being up high, but in a more subtle way, as the rides are typically gentle.
Both sports also allow you the most fantastic views of the grounds or waters below! You won’t have to rush to view the scenery, either. However, you can at least snap a photo from a hot air balloon, which you can’t do when paragliding.
The mechanics of flight are vastly different as a hot air balloon uses heat from the fire to rise, and you’re in a basket rather than hanging out in the air through an a-frame. You can also have more people on a balloon ride, as there is room for at least four to twelve people, depending on the size.
12. Ziplining
Ziplining is a safe, excellent choice for those who love heights but prefer a little closer to the ground than paragliding allows.
Instead, you’re harnessed in a sitting or horizontal position, ready to glide through the air on a cable. It gives you the same sensation as floating on air paragliding does. Not to mention, you get just as good of views with participating in both sports.
However, it should be noted that ziplining produces a bit more of an adrenaline dump as you feel like you’re traveling faster than paragliding, but this is because you’re closer to the ground. Paragliding, on the other hand, gives you a more weightless, relaxed feeling.
13. Bungee Jumping
Lastly, bungee jumping is another excellent sport comparable to paragliding, but in a different way. Bungee jumping is when someone is attached to an elastic cord by either chest, leg, or ankle harness, allowing them to jump from a ledge and experience a quick freefall in which the rebound snags them up.
So, what both sports have in common are the gorgeous aerial views they allow and the rush of adrenaline. You can also choose to go solo or fly/jump in tandem on both, depending on the venue you book. Plus, bungee jumping is just as safe as paragliding!
Read our related post “10 Activities Like Bungee Jumping for Thrill Seekers” here.
If you still are unsure what to do, see our list of 99 activities that are adventurous for you and your friends here.
When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.
